Soot blower



Oct. 27, 1931. F. J. WH'ELAN ET AL 1,829,174

SOOT BLOWER Filed Aug. 13, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 @bbomwq 1931- F. J. WHELAN ET AL 1, 4

SOOT BLOWER Filed Aug. 13, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 27, 1931. F. J. WHELAN ET AL 3 9 S OOT BLOWE R Filed Aug. 13, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l atented Oct. 27, 1931 PATENT FFICE FRANK J. WHELAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND THOMAS FRANCIS DWYER, JR., OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOBS TO SUPERIOR ENGINEERING COMPANY,

OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS SOOT BLOWER Application filed August 13, 1926. Serial No. 128,978.

10 To this end, in each water leg of the boiler is seated a stay tube extending transversely of the same and opening into the fire box in front of the flue sheet. In each of these stay tubes is mounted a casing containing the operative parts of the device, including a rotatable nozzle provided with a valve-controlled 'connection with a suitable source of pressurefluid. Means operable from the cab are provided whereby the nozzle can be oscil- '20 lated to sweep the pressure fluid projected therefrom across the flue sheet and the ends of the fines, the force of the pressure fluid, augmented by the draft of the furnace, operating to dislodge the soot and other accumulations from the flue sheet and fines so that the loosened material can be carried with the other products of combustion by theexhaust to the stack.

In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a boiler flue cleaner embodying the invention, parts being broken away. In this view a section of a water leg of a locomotive boiler is shown with a stay tube seated therein and the nozzle pipe of the cleaner projecting through the stay tube.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the flue cleaner, with parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line H of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view, showing the conical gudgeon that forms one of the bearings for the nozzle pipe. Figs. 6 11 are enlarged detail views of the spraying nozzle. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 7 is an inner end elevation. Fig. 8 is a plan view. Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are sectional views on the lines 99, 1010 and 11-11, respectively, of Fig. 6.

In practice two of the devices are em- .ployed, one in each side of the fire-box and operative to project the pressure fluid over considerably more than one-half of the surface of the flue sheet so that the operation of both will cover the entire surface. As the two devices are alike in construction and operation, a description of one will suffice for both.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 designates a water leg of the locomotive boiler on which the apparatus is mounted. Extending transversely across this water leg is the stay tube 11 with its ends seated in the opposite walls of the leg. A main casing 12 is provided with a flat inner face to abut the outer wall of the water leg and is flanged, as at 13, to receive the'bolts 14E that extend into the outer wall of the water leg to hold the casing in place. On the inner side of the casing and central to the flat face thereof is a cylindrical nipple 15 fitting the stay tube 11. Surrounding this nipple is a packing 16 clamped by the bolts 14 between the face of the casing and the wall of the water leg to prevent leakage between the nipple and the stay tube. Leading upward through the casing is a passage 17 connected by the pipe 18 with a source of supply of pressure fluid (not shown), which may be the steam turret of the boiler so that the dry steam therefrom may be utilized for the cleansing purpose. The pipe 18 is controlled by a throttle valve that may be controlled by an actuating rod (not shown) extending to a suitable control position, such as the cab of the locomotive.

A nozzle pipe 21 extends horizontally through the lower part of the casing 12 across the passage 17 and in axial alinement with the stay tube 11 and the nipple 15. The nipple forms a bearing for the outer end of the nozzle pipe and the inner end of the pipe is journaled in the conical gudgeon block 22 seated in a conical opening in the wall of the casing, the base of the block facing inward so that the pressure fluid in the casing will be imposed on the block to force the latter into its conical seat and around the pipe and that point. At an intermediatepart of the vided with slotteddischargeorifice 26 angu-' larly+ disposed to -the-axis ofthenozzle, the

thereby prevent leakage from thecasing at nozzle pipe, in the wall thereof, is a port 23 to register Withthe passage 17 in the casing. On the inner Wall of the casing and opposite to the intermediate partof the nozzle plpe is-a curved seat24: against" which the pipe bears to eflect an opening and closing...

of the port 23 as the pipe is turned.

Onthe outer end 'of'thepipe 21 is-secured the n'ozz1e'2'5 partly within the stay tube and" projecting from the latter into the fire-box in front of the flue sheet and t0 one'side thereof, the axis of the nozzle beingnormal.

to the axis of the fire flue. The nozzle is proshape of the orifice being such as-to project the pressure fluid :in. a fan-like stream against pinned to-the operatingrod-35 and the'two members 33 andx34 are hingedatogether to form a' universal j oint connectingthe'o} i er'at in'giiro'dcand the": work? shaft. The operating 7 shaft is j ournale'd in bearings: carried by the 1 *the fluesheet and the ends-of the fluesas-the nozzle pipe isoscillated. The'spra'yingefl'ect of each nozzle covers considerable more than one-half of-theareaof the. flue sheet; so that thecombined spraying effect ofthe two oppo sitenozzles will coverathe entire surface of theflue sheet. I On the 'innerend. of the-nozzle: pipe 21, WhicheXtends-outSide of the ca-sing 12,.is

mounted the segmental gear27, being-secured thereon by the bolt 28 passing through its hub and the endof-the-pipe'; WViththissegmental gear 27 meshes the worm'sh'aft 29 journaled' in bearings formed inthe auxiliary" housing 30 secured tO'tlTQ'OIItQI' side-of'the casing. 12 by the bolts 31" extending through theuflange 13 (Fig. 1) on the outerside of the main casing 12 into the upper'inner edgeof the auxiliary casing and by the b0lts'31v (Fig; 2) extendingithroughthe-lower part of theauxiliary casing. into the main casing; Aszthe worm-shaftis rotatedback and forthbyithe crank 37:and thezintervening mechw nism, the segmental gear 27' is oscillatedto impart a like-movement to the nozzle pipe. The limit of theturning movement ofthe.

crank in either direction acan be determined by an indicator (not shown) of: the type usually employed for such purposes; Longi tudinalmovement of the worm shaft 29 in itsv "bearingis preventedby the nut 32 threaded.

onione en'dof theshaft' andabutting the adjacent side of the "housing; on the other end of the wormshaft'is pinned the. coupling.

member 33 abutting the housingron that side.

The nut 32 on one end of the shaft and the coupling-member 33 on: the other end of the" shaft, with these two members bearing. against the interposed housing, longitudinal movement of the: worm? shaft will be prevented.-- Another coupling member 34-isbrackets 36 fastened to a suitable support, as

the outer wall of the Water leg 10 of the boiler.

The operating rod or shaft leads to the engineers station in the cab (not shown) and there it is provided with acrank 37 by means of whichthe operating rod can:be*: rotated. The universal j oint formed by the-angularly hingedi members 33 and 3 1 permit change in direction of ihe operating rod relatively to the Wormshaftto accommodate the required mounting. V H I The end of the nozzle'pipe' 21 "extending "intothe housing 30 has a plug 39. inserted in the same to close the outward passage through th'epipe. This plug also strengthens the end of thepipe and through -the-.blruck-extends theubolt 28 securing the'worm :gear 27 in place. The. outer end 40 ofthe plug pro jectsbeyond the endsofsthe nozzle. pipeand is reduced in'diameter. This reduced endAO" of the pluggforms a: journal that extends through a bearing in the housing30 and on:

its-extremity is threaded the nutrdl. The;

The detail constructionof. the spraying. nozzle is illustrated in i F igs. 6.1li In practice thisnozzle isimade of a metal-alloy that will, withstand Jthe heat and chemical action of the products of combustion-inthefire-box; Such an. alloy is. onecomposed of to -9 0.per cent of nickel and of'3'0 to 10. per cent ofchromium, As the nozzleremains constantly in the fire-box, and .is: continuously-- subjectedto the action of theheatiand gases of combustion the advantage of forming it O-f such aresisting." alloy; is obvious:

As the nozzle 25 is positioned to-oneside of the fire-box, its orifice 26is-a-.greater distancefromthe central partof the flue sheetthan'itis-from the side of-thefluesheet. Con-- sequently the cleansing pressure fluid will be projected more-directly andwith greater force'toward the'side; of the fluesheet and with a decreasing forcewtoward the: central part; of the fiue-sheetowing to the increase; in. distance from the orifice ofthe; nozzle. vVith theorifice of the same width throughout, the cleansing action would be uneven for it would be more 'eflective-at the side of the flue sheet than toward the-centralspart thereof. To avoid this tendency, the: orifice: of

the nozzle and the passages leading; thereto are so shaped and proportioned:asto-prov ject; a greater volume of pressure. fluidtoward the central part of the fluesheet than. toward the side thereof, so" that thes greater: volume of pressure: fluid I striking; with a less:

force the central-part of thefliie sheet-offsets the lesserr volume of pressure fluid: striking use the side of the flue sheet with greater force. In the formation of the nozzle (F-igs. 6-11), the opposite ends of the orifice 26 are struck on arcs of circles of different radii, as at 42 and 43, in which merge the sides 44 of the orifice, gradually approaching each other from the greater arcuate end of the orifice to the lesser arcuate end. The orifice end 45 of the nozzle is angularly disposed to the main part 46, the inner end wall 47 of the orifice being normal to the longitudinal axis of the main part, and the outer end wall 48 being inclined about thirty-five degrees from said axis. At the bend connecting the orifice end and main part of the nozzle is the restricted throat 49 (Fig. 9) of the same general outline as that of the orifice 26. From the throat to the edge of the orifice the arcuate parts 42 and 43 are divergently flared toward their outer ends (Fig. 6), but at their intermediate parts (Fig. 10) the sides are substantially parallel in their outward extension.

The passage so formed through the emission end of the nozzle projects the pressure fluid in a fan-like stream, that part emitted from arcuate end 42 of the orifice being di rected toward the central part of the flue sheet and that part from the arcuate end 43 striking the side of the flue-sheet, with the intermediate part of the fan-like stream covering the intermediate part of the flue sheet. As that part of the stream emitted from the arcuate end 42 has the greater distance to travel before it strikes the flue sheet it has less effective striking force than that part emitted from the arcuate end 43, which has a shorter distance to travel before it strikes the flue sheet, but the greater volume of the former offsets the greater striking force of the latter so that the cleaning effect is equalized over the entire surface of that part of the flue-sheet covered by the fanlike stream. The restricted area of the throat and passage through the orifice end of the u nozzle, as compared with the cross-area of the main part of the nozzle, effects a venturi action to increase the velocity of the emitted stream so that a more effective cleansing action is obtained. The inner end of the main part 46 of the nozzle is cylindrical and is threaded to engage the outer end of the nozzle pipe 21.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: In the initial position of the operative parts of the apparatus, the port 23 in the nozzle pipe 21 abuts the curved seat 24 in the wall of the casing and communication between the passage 17 and the nozzle pipe is thereby closed. This closed position of the port 23 coincides with the checking of the segmental gear in its turning movement by the worm shaft in one direction. When it is desired to clear the flues and the flue sheet, the most advantageous time is when the locomotive is under way and the exhaust is at full blast through the uptake of the furnace so that the maximum draft through the flues will be provided. Under these conditions the engineer opens the throttle valve 19 so that the pressure fluid can pass through the pipe 18 into the passage 17 of the casing 12. He then slowly turns the crank wheel 37 and through the intervening mechanism the nozzle pipe 21 is rotated until the segmental gear is checked in its turning movement in that direction. During this partial rotation of the nozzle pipe the port 23 leaves the curved seat 24 and communication is established between the passage 17 in the casing and the interior of the nozzle pipe. This communication is maintained until the nozzle pipe is turned back to its initial position.

Inthe initial position of the pipe 21, the discharge orifice 26 in the nozzle 25 is positioned to direct the pressure fluid against the upper part of the flue sheet. As the pipe is rotated the nozzle is turned so that the fan-like stream of pressure fluid sweeps the flue sheet from top to bottom and covers considerably more than a half of the surface on the side on which is mounted the apparatus being operated. The force of the projected pressure fluid combined with the maximum draft through the flues created by the exhaust from the engine dislodges the accumulations of soot and cinders from the flue sheet and fines and the dislodged material is carried by the draft with the other products of combustion to the uptake of the furnace. When the turning movement of the nozzle pipe reaches its limit in one direction, the engineer reverses the crank wheel and the nozzle pipe is returned to its initial position with the port 23 closed on its seat 24. In this return movement the pressure fluid jet sweeps the flue sheet from bottom to top. During the first part of the cleaning operation the discharge from the stack is noticeably black from the dislodged soot, but as the operation continues the discharge clears and by observing these conditions the engineer can determine when the operation is sufiicient.

While the cleaning operation can be accomplished to the best advantage while the locomotive is under way, yet it can be done while the engine is standing, but under this condition the stack blower and superheater damper must be wide open.

What we claim is:

1. In a boiler flue cleaner, the combination of a main casing provided with an induction passage and having a cylindrical nipple on one side, with a pipe journaled in the easing and extending through the cylindrical nipple in axial alinement therewith and provided with a port to register with the induction passage, a nozzle on the end of the pipe extending outside of the nipple, a plug fixed in the other end of the pipe to close the same and provided at its outer end with a reduced extension informing; axjournal; in: axial aline+ ment'l withatheupipe; Lamaux'iliary housing; (18+ taehah-ly-r-moulnted omtlie outer-side of the:

main casingzto.abutitheolosedendnfzthe-;p1p e 1 3 andrproiv idingiai bearing. :for thej ournal $110? jeetingjfromsaidiendofqthepipe, agear. Xed onthezclosed' end-of;thepipe,a=.;shaftj 0111:- nailed imtheaauxiliary housing andiprovidedz With-raw orm 2 engaging-the gear; and means:

15?? fol rotating: int either, direction the shaft;

carryingthewormto move the gear hack; and forth to impart oscillatory. movement to: the piperand the-nozzle :oarriedloysaid wpipe.

2.?! In a qbioilerifiuexclea-ner; thegcombination':

5 OfI'ZLT main casingprovided ,with an :induetion passage?and-having5 cylindrical nipple: on 1 one. side,- with fat pipe-journaled in the casing;

' andeXtending-through theieylindrical nipple in: axialzalinemenh therewith and. provided" 7 293 with apprt-toa register .withtheinductiOn pas-. sage; anozzle on athe end .of thexpipe. extend-Z ingoutside of' the. nipple, apl-ugafiXedzin the. other; endmfi the: pi-pejto elosertheesamer and prQV ided..-at its outer end with a redueedqex- 25:2 tension aforming. a journal in axialalineme-nt with. the:pip e ,-a; segmental gear fixed'lon the closedend of the pipe; an auxiliary-housing; detachabl-ymounted on the outer. side of the lnain ocasingrto abut-the closed-end of thepipe 305; and providing a hearing for the -'journal projeoting ffrtom said end 'of?thepipe, said auxil;

. iaryhousing including a hood extending over.

' thezsegmental-gear,.ashaft journaledin the auxiliary housing and provided (with a Worm e1-1gagingthe segmental gear, andmeans for rotating. in; either direction theshaftcarrying the orm to move the segmental gear back; and (forth .to impart osci1latorym0vement .to 1 the-pipe-and the. nozzle oa-rr-ied thereby 40; ,In testimony whereof iweafiix= ouri si1gna-v .I. WHELAN'. t

. THOMAS FRANCISDWYEB; JRJH V 

